The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-04-01
HONOLULU RIFLES.
4 Battalion Formed ANA Election OF
Officers.

The meeting OF the Honolulu Rifles
was held at their armory last evening,
when the following officers were elected:
II. f. Hebbard, Captain; J. W. Pratt
and G. c.. Straten eyer, FiEtL e tenants;
G.. w. Ashford, Second Lieutenant.
The members then fell in line and
were numbered, those having even num-
bers marching to the other side OF the
hall, thus forming two companies. The
commissioned officers then retired to
the ante-room, and returning In few
moments announced Captain Nolney v.
Ashford as their choice for Major of the
battalion. This announcement was re-
ceived with cheers by all present, to
which Major Ashford responded in
neat little speech.
A ballot was then taken to fill the
vacancy left by Major Ashford's adj
vancement, resulting in the election of
Vim. Unger, and II. Gum to the
position of Second Lieutenant.
The following staff officers were APP
pointed by the Major: Geo. Mcleod,
Adiutant; w. G.. King, Drum Major.
Lieutenant Gum was appointed Ordin-
ance Officer; DIR. Martin, Surgeon; w.
w. Hall, Quartermaster; S. j. Levey,
Sergeant-Major. J. Simonson was then
elected Second Lieutenant in place of
H. Gum.
A vote of thanks was rendered Mr..
Otremba for bust of His Majesty the
King, presented to the battalion.
Thursday evening was selected for the
drill night of Company A, and Tuesday
evening for Company B. The raw re-
cruits will drill every Monday night.
Before adjourning the following vote
of thanks to the ladies who presented a
beautiful flag to the battalion short
time ago was drafted:
Honolulu, March 81, 1887.
To the Ladies who so kindly donated our
Fiag-Ladies: 1t is said that oppOsites
seek each other, and it is this perhaps that
accounts for the fact that the harsh and
dark side of military life seeks relief in
brilliant trappings and gay surroundings,
paramount over all of which stands the
flag.
1t is noticeable that while the flag is of
no practical utility either as a weapon of
attack or defense, it is yet the first thing
that the soldier will fight for, and the last
that he will desert; the gun and cannon
often being abandoned to save a beauti
full but helpless flag.
This illustrates the force of sentiment
and its power through very weakness to
accomplish great results.
In the same way permit us to say that
woman, though in one sense helpless in
matters military, is still far more potent to
inspire courage and devotion in the soldier,
and to secure success, than mere numbers
of men.
And it is our belief that the same spirit
that led you to present us with our flag
will lead you to follow us with your sup
port in the future, and that that support
will be measured to US according to the
needs of the hour
In accepting this flag we look upon it,
not simply as the flag of our battalion nor
of the Hawaiian aborigines-not as the
flag of any one race or class or clique-but
equally the flag of ali, an emblem of the
land itself, the place of the birth of many
of us-the adopted home of many more.
And in this broad and rapidly developing
sense we can certainly pledge our fidelity
to this bright and beautiful emblem of a
bright and beautiful land, and that its
honor, in the words of our battalion mot
to, we will stand lever ready" to defend.
With highest respect, we remain,
THE Honolulu RIFLES.
By their Committee:
va. Kinney,